HARTINGTON — The May 11 Primary Election is an important race for several Cedar County candidates.
Votes cast in the Primary will decide the winner in the race for Clerk of District Court and will determine who will serve as a Cedar County Commissioner in the central and north districts.
Republican Sally Kneifl is challenging incumbent Janet Wiechelman for the position of Clerk of District Court. Wiechelman is also a Republican.
Kneifl is coming into the race with experience in the court system. She is currently working for the state of Nebraska as a Children and Family Services Specialist.

“I am an advocate for children who are wards of the state. I prepare their court documents and represent them through the court process,” Kneifl said. “I coordinate services for families who have children who are state wards.”
Kneifl has worked for the Cedar County Sheriff’s Department as a D.A.R.E. instructor; as a part-time police officer for the City of Hartington and previously worked in the District Court Office in Cedar County.
Kneifl’s education includes a BA from Wayne State College in Education and Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice. She is currently working on a Master’s Degree.
One of Kneifl’s goals as Clerk of District Court would be to provide friendly, efficient service to everyone.
“I would serve the people of Cedar County and make them feel welcome,” she said.
Kneifl is active in her church and in the community.
She has worked with 4-H, FFA, Boy Scouts and Youth Support Groups and was also the NCIP coordinator for Hartington.
Kneifl is the mother of five children, Brandon, an auto technician; Holly, student at Wayne State College along with Megan, Jewel and Kaden, who are students at Hartington Public School.
Kneifl has lived in Cedar County for 21 years.

Janet Wiechelman has dedicated herself to the office of Clerk of District Court since she took office in January of 1991.
She has been a past president, an Education Chairperson and is the Legislative Liaison for the NE Clerks of District Court Association.
Wiechelman has also been appointed to the Automation Advisory Committee for the Nebraska Supreme Court.
Wiechelman has made technologically advanced procedures available to the public, courts, and attorneys in e-filing, e-payments and the court documents provided through the online search of court records.
“Under my direction the procedures and processes of the office will continue to follow the statutes of the State of Nebraska, court rules and orders of the court,” Wiechelman said. “This office does not set policy, it only complies with what has been ordered.”
Wiechelman provided leadership throughout the planning for the remodeling of the Courthouse and was available for assistance and guidance to the commissioners, architect and judges.
Wiechelman is active in the community and at Trinity Lutheran Church. She is an officer for the Hartington Public Booster Club and a member of the Hartington Housing Rehabilitation Board.
At her church, Wiechelman currently provides direction in Sunday School and on the Stewardship Committee and has been a past council member.
Wiechelman and her husband, Jon, along with their son, Aaron live in Hartington where Jon owns and operates Whiechelman Repair. Aaron attends Hartington Public High School.
Commissioner Dave McGregor has had a busy first term in office.
He has taken part in the dedication of the Discovery Bridge, worked with the Trans-Canada Pipeline Company, helped steer the work on the Courthouse addition/renovation project and met the challenges brought on by the harsh winter of 2010.
He has also enjoyed being involved in the many centennial celebrations in the local communities.
McGregor served as Chairman of the Cedar County Commissioners in 2009.
He has participated in a pilot training program through the University of Nebraska which was developed specifically for Commissioners and Supervisors.
Looking toward the future for Cedar County, McGregor would like to see continued economic growth. He said one example would be a wind farm which could provide job opportunities.
“Tax revenue would also be brought into the county by the development of wind energy as well as with the pipeline company,” said McGregor.
The possibility of regionalizing services between counties was considered when plans were put in place for the renovation of the courthouse.
“The renovation included upgrading the facility for technology, security and accessibility,” McGregor said.
One of McGregor’s goals as county commissioner has been to earn the trust and respect of Cedar County residents and taxpayers.
“It is not only how I approach the responsibilities of the position — it is important to get things accomplished for the betterment of Cedar County,” McGregor said.
McGregor makes sure he responds to all calls and any questions Cedar County residents have.
“If someone calls with a problem on the roads or with another county issue I talk to them,” McGregor said. “We work together on a solution to the problem – then I make contact again to see if they are satisfied.”
Dick Donner is seeking to reclaim the commission seat he held for eight years. Donner is taking on current Commissioner Dave McGregor for a four-year seat on the Board.

The pair meet in the primary election as both are registered Republicans.
Donner said he has been thinking about running since he lost the race in the primary election four years ago.
“I lost by only six votes – people had asked me to run again,” Donner said.
According to Donner, the final decision to file was made when the commissioners raised salaries for elected officials.
“What motivated me the most was when they took the big raise last November. When they passed resolution 09-34 — I filed the papers.” Donner said. “I thought it was wrong — our economic situation did not justify that. They took an eight percent raise plus a cost of living increase each year – when has anyone else in the county got a raise like that.”
Donner said if he is elected as Commissioner he will try and reverse the decision.
“The county board is there to hold the line on the purse strings,” he said.
Donner also believes the tax payers in Cedar County should have had more input or a chance to vote on whether the recent addition/renovation of the Courthouse was done.
“It grew into a big project,” Donner said. “Inheritance money is still tax dollars. I don’t believe you should use tax dollars to pay interest – it isn’t right.”
Donner’s experience as owner/operator of his own grading contractor business for 15 years was valuable to him during his time as County Commissioner.
He was passionate about getting the roads in shape so they would be easier to keep open in the winter time.
The areas that needed work the most were mapped out and with the cooperation of the land owners the roads were worked on.
“I would rather spend the money grading roads then pushing snow in the winter,” he said.
Donner and his wife Jolene live in Hartington. They have three children and eight grandchildren.

Two Democratic candidates are seeking the job as Commissioner in the north district.
Terry Pinkelman, Wynot and Merle Tramp, Crofton area, have both filed to replace Commissioner Frederick Pinkelman who has served on the Board for 12 years, but decided against another term in office.
Merle Tramp has lived in Cedar County all his live.
He lives just one-half mile down the road from the farm in northern Cedar County where he was born in 1952.
Being fifth of fifteen kids in his family taught him how to get along with others at an early age.
Tramp began farming with his Dad after he graduated from high school.
In 1981 he bought into Frontier Mills, a livestock feed business, which is located in Yankton.
Since 1990, Tramp has been working full-time at Frontier Mills which has ten employees.
If Tramp is elected as the next Commissioner for District One he will be leaving his job at Frontier Mills.
“I feel the job of Commissioner is a full-time job,” Tramp said. “It has been my intention since the beginning to get out of the feed business if I win.”
Tramp is ready to take on the job as a Cedar County Commissioner and make some needed improvements.
“I am a worthy opponent,” he said.
Tramp said it would be out of his jurisdiction as a Commissioner but he would like to see the residents of Cedar County have more say on what is happening in their county.
“It is a done deal but in my opinion spending over $3.6 million on rehabilitating the Meridian Bridge is a waste of money,” said Tramp. “Stimulus money or not – let’s set an example and turn it down.”
Tramp and his wife Susan have been married for thirty-three years.
They have four adult children and five grandchildren.
Tramp has attended the St. Boniface Catholic Church in Menominee all of his life.
Tramp has been involved with Habitat for Humanity in Yankton County for close to twenty years and he is currently serving as one of the directors.

The timing is right for Terry Pinkelman to take on the job of County Commissioner if he is elected on May 11th.
“I was approached about running for commissioner a couple of years ago but I felt I didn’t have enough time,” Pinkelman said. “My son is farming with me now – I would have more time to spend as Commissioner.”
Pinkelman is interested in how county government works and would like to serve his fellow tax payers as county commissioner.
“I have a concern on how the tax payer’s money is being used,” he said. “Most people don’t mind paying taxes as long as they receive a fair return.”
Pinkelman has made a commitment to do a good job if he is elected as County Commissioner.
“I am willing to listen to different viewpoints and then do what would benefit the majority of the people,” he said.
Pinkelman is currently serving on the Cedar-Knox Public Power District Board, is a member of the Finance Committee at his church.
He was a volunteer for the Wynot Fire Dept for 32 years, was on the Wynot Centennial Committee and has served on various other boards through the years.
Pinkelman has lived in Cedar County all of his life and he is committed to his community and to the county.
He lives on the farm one mile north of Wynot where he was born and raised.
Pinkelman has been involved in farming his whole life.
He served in the Army National Guard for seven years after he graduated from Wynot High School.
Pinkelman and his wife Cheryl have been married for forty-one years.
They have adult two children: Todd and Jill and two granddaughters.